A guard of Honour was provided by the Defence Forces as new Ambassadors, including Canada's Kevin Vickers, presented their credentials to President Michael D Higgins.

Irish-Canadian Mr Vickers became well-known worldwide after he was sergeant-at-arms in Canada's national parliament when he shot and killed a gunman last October.

In addition to the Ambassador of Canada, the Ambassador of the Plurinational State of Bolivia and the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia presented their Letters of Credence to the President at Áras an Uachtaráin yesterday.

Later, Mr Vickers met with Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan to discuss the potential for building on Ireland's relationship with Canada.